Terms of the deal for the junior from Brookfield, Wis. were not announced.

"It is definitely something you dream about your whole life," Grosenick said. "San Jose is a first-class organization and I can't wait to get to work."

Leaving Union wasn't an easy decision for Grosenick, who was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as the nation's top college player following his sophomore season for the Dutchmen.

"It was a real tough decision, leaving a group of brothers in the locker room is the hardest part," Grosenick said. "I owe a great deal to those guys and love every single one of them. It just felt like it was the right opportunity and the right time."

Grosenick will continue to attend classes at Union while he works toward his degree in managerial economics and there are no plans for him to play again until the 2013-14 season.

His desire to graduate and San Jose's willingness to let him do so were factors in his decision.

"I'll be staying here to finish my studies, I'll be going to San Jose for a physical and meet some people in the next couple of weeks," Grosenick said. "San Jose really showed they care about my career and my own ambitions to get my degree and allowing me to focus on that."

After appearing in three games his freshman season, Grosenick took over the duty of protecting the Union net when Keith Kinkaid (Albany Devils) turned pro following the 2010-11 season.

Grosenick won 22 games in his first season as the starter and posted a 1.65 goals-against average as Union made a run to the national semifinals with a berth in the Frozen Four.

Overall, Grosenick went 39-16-9 at Union with a 1.89 goals-against average and was named to the Academic All-America At-Large Team following his sophomore season.

"It's a happy day, we're happy as a program and as a school that he's going to get his degree," Union coach Rick Bennett said. "He's made that effort and I'm sure that is going to happen. He's won two ECAC championships and he's brought us to a Frozen Four."

"I guess the time is right," Bennett said.

Grosenick was contacted by a few NHL teams in the days following Union's 5-1 loss to Quinnipiac in the second round of the NCAA tournament. His decision came down to San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers.

"I treat every season like one season at a time. I didn't really talk to anybody really about it until after the season was over," Grosenick said. "Things just kind of happened quickly."

Niskayuna native Colin Stevens is projected to replace Grosenick in goal for Union and will be entering a similar situation that Grosenick faced when Kinkaid bolted for the professional ranks.

Grosenick offered up some advice to Stevens at the conclusion of the new conference.

"Just play, that's it. It's a game, just go out and play it," Grosenick said.